OUR HISTORY

In the latter part of 1963, the International
Union discussed the situation in Allegheny County where you had three
different local unions with over-lapping jurisdiction. It was creating
many problems between the Locals and instead of working to protect their
jurisdiction against the other crafts, they were fighting with each
other.

In early 1964, a meeting was set up at the W. Pennsylvania
Laborers' District Council, which, at the time, had their office at the
Carlton House, across the street from the William Penn Hotel on Grant
Street. Peter J. Livolsi was the President of the Council at the time.

The three Local Unions that attended the meeting were: Local #11
with Jack Williams as Business Manager and Robert Giles as President; Local
#136 with Simon Swindle as Business Manager and Chester Harper as President;
and Local #226 with Business Manager Milton Piper and Financial Secretary
William Barrett. Also in attendance was Ralph Thomas, an International
Representative, and Llloyd F. Engle Jr. as legal council.

President Livolsi presided as chairman of the meeting and stated
that the purpose of the meeting was to open discussions on the possible
merger of the three Locals into one.

The International Union had sent a letter to each local and to
the District Council urging cooperation between the Locals to accomplish
this goal. Otherwise, they'd step in and take over all of them and do it
themselves. Everyone present at the meeting agreed that they did not want
this to happen. Although there were many hard feelings towards each other at
the onset, they all knew what had to be done. There were several meetings
held in the ensuing months and finally on August 13, 1964, Local Union #373
was given a charter by the International. The number "373" was created by
adding the three prior Locals together(226, 136, & 11).

More recently, the District Council felt the need to consolidate
a little more. Due to financial difficulties, Local #347 was recommended to
merge into Local #373. Consequently, on April 4, 1989, the merger was
approved by the membership. Former Local #347 Business Manager Mark Flaherty
was added as a Field Representative on June 19, 1989.

Due to this restructuring and the solid leadership exhibited
by former and current representatives, Local #373 has become one of the
strongest Locals in the Mid-Atlantic region.